In a first, Marriyum retracts controversial remarks

LAHORE: State Minister for Information, Broadcasting, National History and Literary Heritage Marriyum Aurangzeb on Friday retracted and apologised for the anti-Hindu and Jew slur she had uttered while commenting on Supreme Court’s verdict on Imran Khan and Jehangir Tareen disqualification case. This is unprecedented that any state minister has apologised for such comments.

Hitting at her political rival, the minister had alleged that Imran Khan was running the party with foreign funding from ‘Hindus and Jews’. She added that the PTI chief used those funds to finance anti-government sit-ins and obstructed the development projects. She said that the verdict on that was yet to come and that the matter was with ECP. Later, the state minister termed it a slip of tongue and unintentional, saying that she meant foreign funding from traditionally ‘enemy’ countries like India and Israel and not the religions Hinduism and Judaism.

She said the government recognises and respects the rights of all minorities including the Hindu community living in Pakistan and that she will be cautious about religious sentiments of minority religious communities in her speeches.

The insulting remarks of the minister were immediately picked up by the media and prominent anchorpersons condemning her and demanding an apology. The minister admitted her fault and offered an unconditional apology for the same.